Tuesday, November 29, 2016

WHO declares Zika virus ‘no longer an emergency’

For
nine months, the World Health Organization treated the Zika virus as an
international medical emergency, as is was linked to significant birth defects
like microcephaly in over 30 countries. The virus is primarily spread by
mosquitoes, but it has also been reported to be sexually transmitted. Deaths
are rare, but 20 percent of people infected by the virus develop symptoms
including rash, fever, and joint pain.

The
head of a WHO emergency committee, Dr. David Heymann, continued to describe the
virus as a “significant and enduring” threat. However, the WHO will transition
to a more long-term approach against the epidemic, which has expanded to Latin
America and the Caribbean. The declaration signaling the end of an emergency
state, however, prompted concern by some public health experts. They worry that
this declaration may slow down the international response and create the false
perception that people are safe.

Dr.
Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious
Diseases, suggested that the announcement was premature. He questions, “If they
pull back on the emergency, they’d better be able to reinstate it. Why not wait
a couple of months to see what happens?”

Moreover,
Dr. Lawrence Gostin, director of the O’Neill Institute for National and Global
Health Law at Georgetown University expressed that while the virus is not
lethal nor deforming newborn babies at the rate anticipated, “the international
response has been lethargic” and “WHO’s action to call off the global emergency
has provided reason for governments and donors to pull back even more.”